Brentford vs Sheffield United tips and predictions: Bees to seal crucial win as both teams score

The next 14 days will make or break Brentford’s season with the Bees looking cautiously over their shoulder in the relegation battle.

Visitors Sheffield United haven’t given up the ghost, securing high-scoring draws in three of their previous four, but defeat this weekend could confirm what we already know.

The Blades will probably be playing Championship football next season but we may want to revisit that assessment after crunch clashes with the Bees and Burnley.

Regardless of form, there is no better opportunity than a home fixture against the bottom club. A win on Saturday should move them seven clear of Luton Town.

Three consecutive draws and arguably their best performance of the season against Man Utd suggests a positive result is just around the corner.

Until that happens, they’ve won three of 21, while Chris Wilder’s side have won three games all season.

Another common thread is goals. There have been over 2.5 goals in 68% of Brentford’s matches and 67% of Sheffield United’s Premier League fixtures.

Notably, the Bees have scored nearly half their goal tally in the 13 games since Ivan Toney’s return, but absences such as Ben Mee and Ethan Pinnock have hindered them.

While this has the potential to be a cagey game, like the Blades’ 1-0 win in the reverse fixture, we’ll take a chance on this being to and throw.

The visitors haven’t kept a clean sheet on their travels and the Londoners have conceded two goals per game at the Gtech Community Stadium.

Ivan Toney has found the net four times in 13 since his return, which is hardly prolific, but we want to take a chance of him showing up when his team need him the most.

 

Team news

Josh Dasilva, Rico Henry, Aaron Hickey and Ben Mee are ruled out.

Ethan Pinnock, Kevin Schade and Christian Norgaard are nearing a return, so keep an eye on Thomas Frank’s press conference.

The Blades will be without Max Lowe, Rhys Norrington-Davies, Chris Basham, John Egan, George Baldock, Rhian Brewster, Daniel Jebbison and Tom Davies.

Jack Robinson should recover from a knock to feature alongside Mason Holgate and Anel Amhedhodzic in defence.

 

Key stats

- There have been over 2.5 goals in just over two-thirds of both side's matches
- Brentford are conceding two goals per game in home matches this season
- Brentford have scored 20 in 13 with Toney, compared to 25 in 19 without him
- Sheffield United have conceded at least one goal in every away match

 

Suggested bets

Brentford win and over 2.5 goals

Ivan Toney to score

Both teams to score